Pokémon Natures Chart & Effects
Understanding Pokémon Natures is a crucial step for any trainer looking to optimize their team in Pokémon Sword and Shield. Natures directly influence a Pokémon's growth, boosting one stat by 10% while simultaneously lowering another by 10%. A handful of Natures are "neutral," meaning they don't affect any stats. Choosing the right Nature can significantly impact your Pokémon's performance in battles, especially in competitive play.
Identifying Your Pokémon's Nature
You can check your Pokémon's Nature from its summary screen. Navigate to your Bag, select your Pokémon, and then choose "Check Summary." On the stat screen, you'll see which stats are affected: a red arrow pointing up indicates a boosted stat, while a blue arrow pointing down signifies a lowered stat. If no arrows are present, your Pokémon has a neutral Nature.
Changing Natures with Mints
In Pokémon Sword and Shield, you're not stuck with the Nature your Pokémon is born with! Thanks to the introduction of Mints, you can effectively change a Pokémon's stat-altering properties. While the Pokémon's actual displayed Nature won't change (e.g., a Pokémon with a "Brave" Nature will still show "Brave" even if you use a Timid Mint), its stat growth will reflect the Mint's effect.
- Acquiring Mints: Mints can be purchased from the Battle Tower in Wyndon after you've completed the main story and become Champion. Each Mint costs 50 Battle Points (BP).
- Strategy: Save your BP for Mints that align with your competitive strategies. For example, if you have a special attacker with a physical-boosting Nature, a Special Attack-boosting Mint (like a Modest Mint) is a wise investment.
The Nature Chart: Boosts and Reductions
Here's a comprehensive breakdown of all available Natures and their effects on your Pokémon's stats. Use this chart to determine the best Nature for your team members based on their roles (e.g., a fast physical attacker, a bulky special defender).
| Nature | Boosted Stat | Reduced Stat |
|---|---|---|
| Adamant | Attack | Special Attack |
| Bashful | None (Neutral) | None (Neutral) |
| Brave | Attack | Speed |
| Calm | Special Defense | Attack |
| Careful | Special Defense | Special Attack |
| Docile | None (Neutral) | None (Neutral) |
| Gentle | Special Defense | Defense |
| Hardy | None (Neutral) | None (Neutral) |
| Hasty | Speed | Defense |
| Impish | Defense | Special Attack |
| Jolly | Speed | Special Attack |
| Lax | Defense | Special Defense |
| Lonely | Attack | Defense |
| Mild | Special Attack | Defense |
| Modest | Special Attack | Attack |
| Naive | Speed | Special Defense |
| Naughty | Attack | Special Defense |
| Quiet | Special Attack | Speed |
| Quirky | None (Neutral) | None (Neutral) |
| Rash | Special Attack | Special Defense |
| Relaxed | Defense | Speed |
| Sassy | Special Defense | Speed |
| Serious | None (Neutral) | None (Neutral) |
| Timid | Speed | Attack |
Strategic Nature Selection
When building your team, consider the following:
- Physical Attackers: Look for Natures like Adamant (boosts Attack, lowers Special Attack) or Jolly (boosts Speed, lowers Special Attack) if your Pokémon relies on physical moves and needs to outspeed opponents.
- Special Attackers: Opt for Modest (boosts Special Attack, lowers Attack) or Timid (boosts Speed, lowers Attack) for Pokémon that use special moves.
- Defensive Pokémon: Natures like Impish (boosts Defense, lowers Special Attack), Careful (boosts Special Defense, lowers Special Attack), or Bold (boosts Defense, lowers Attack) are excellent for tanks and walls.
- Trick Room Teams: If you're building a team around the move Trick Room, which makes slower Pokémon move first, Natures that lower Speed (like Brave, Quiet, Relaxed, or Sassy) are highly desirable.
By carefully selecting or altering your Pokémon's Nature, you can fine-tune their battle capabilities and gain a significant edge in the Galar region's toughest challenges!